2024: National options for better coordination of OSINT capabilities
Intense 12-week commission focussed on HMG where BlueprintCo’s focus was police stakeholders as part of a wider consortium
Challenge
Across UK government (HMG), there was a growing recognition of the need to enhance Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) capabilities to better support national security, law enforcement, and public protection.
However, existing OSINT has inconsistent approaches to tooling, governance, and operational deployment. Legal, ethical, and privacy concerns further complicate adoption, particularly in policing, where evidential standards and operational security are critical. O
Our role within this wider HMG initiative was to assess how OSINT could be effectively and ethically integrated into policing, ensuring alignment with legal frameworks and operational needs.
Approach
Focusing on policing, we conducted extensive stakeholder engagement with intelligence teams, investigators, and legal experts to map out existing OSINT capabilities, challenges, and constraints.
Through workshops, interviews, and structured analysis, we assessed how OSINT was currently being used and identified where improvements were needed. We also examined best practices from across HMG and international law enforcement to inform recommendations.
Impact
The work provided a clear evidence base on how OSINT could be more effectively deployed within policing, feeding into wider HMG efforts to standardise and enhance open-source intelligence capabilities.
By identifying key barriers — such as training gaps, governance inconsistencies, and operational challenges — we helped shape national discussions on OSINT policy and capability development.
The assessment framework provides forces with a structured way to determine the most appropriate OSINT tools and methods, ensuring that future adoption is driven by operational need while balancing legal, ethical, and security considerations.